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Title: Rescue3 Swiftwater Technician River Safety Class Location: Horseshoe Bend, ID Link out: Click here Description: SRT-Swiftwater Rescue Technician SRT 1 is an intensive, three-day class (24-30 hours) that includes one day of classroom instruction followed by two days of developing and practicing water rescue skills. The initial emphasis of this course is on self-rescue […]

July 9th 2010 The Main Payette got its yearly makeover- In a cleanup effort spearheaded by the Forest Service with a handful of volunteers and small army of the Jr. kayak instructors from Idaho River Kids, the Main Payette from Banks to Beehive got a second good scouring (the first one coming naturally during the […]

This spring we had the opening of a new whitewater park up on the North Fork of the Payette River called Kelly’s Whitewater Park. Built with the support of Cascade philanthropist Hans Bornobus, Kelly’s is named after Kelly Brennan. Featuring 5 playspots, a welcome center, and a whole bunch of other cool stuff we here […]

Get your South Forking in!!! The Deadwood Dam is scheduled for repairs at the end of this summer and is scheduled to cease releases on August 22nd. That means 0-cfs so get all your Canyon and Staircase fun in before then because the South Fork is going to be the lowest it has been in […]

On October 11th at the Maravia Factory/Cascade Outfitters headquarters a meeting was held for public comment regarding the permit to alter a rock in Staircase by Tom Long. Hosted by the IWA the meeting was a success with over 80 people in attendance. Information was shared, ideas were exchanged, and a calm level atmosphere prevailed […]

Join Tom, Chad and the Cascade Kayak School crew for spring training! New for 2012, this clinic will address advanced river running techniques, play-boating skills, and approaches more difficult whitewater. Tired of the Main, but don’t feel like you have the skills to try the South Fork? Want to move from surviving Slalom to stylin’ […]

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The Payette River system was named after Francois Payette a French-Canadian trapper whose exploits with the local Blackfoot indians are infamous. In the late 60’s kayakers from nearby Boise began to kayak many of the sections visible from Highway 55. As the popularity of outdoor recreation increased, the masses that made the weekend drive to the banks of the Payette grew. During the 80’s, many rafting companies opened for business to accommodate the adventurous crowd.

Mudslides!

The winter of 1996 and spring of 1997 brought some of the highest water levels in years with a winter snow pack of almost 180%. On Christmas day, a warm weather storm blew in and raised the temperatures to almost 50 degrees, dropping 3 inches of rain. Needless to say, massive mudslides ensued. Scattered up and down Hwys 21, 55, and 17 were mudslides that in many cases washed the road out. Near Bronco Billy, a rapid on the lower South Fork, a mudslide actually made a natural dam that stopped up the river and cut off all access to nearby Garden Valley and Crouch for 2 weeks. The dam was cleared by floating dynamite into it, but when the river resumed its normal flow, Bronco Billy was permanently altered. Slalom, the last rapid on the same run, also had major mudslides that completely changed the rapid from a easy class III to a very exciting class IV with a new hole known as Seemore (as in see more rafts flip, see more water, see more carnage). Massive damage at Banks 2 (a small group of buildings near Bennett’s Rock rapid) caused the area to be condemned. On the Main Payette, what once was a fun surf wave called “The Main Play Wave”, became known as GLOYF (go left or you’re fired) after the mudslides. The following description is from the Gem County website:

Flood – New Year’s Day Storm – January 1-5, 1997

Event Summary: $65,000,000.00 – New Year’s day floods in the Weiser, Payette and Salmon River drainages of southwestern Idaho caused record flooding and numerous mudslides. Warm temperatures combined with a rainfall 4-6 times the normal amount; the resulting snowmelt triggered devastating floods, mudslides and avalanches, extensively damaging communities and infrastructure throughout Idaho. The community of South Banks was condemned because of extensive slide damage. Over 400 miles of roads and several railroad lines were blocked or destroyed, stranding over 10,000 holiday travelers in western Idaho. Residents of McCall, Cascade, Banks, Lowman and Garden Valley were isolated. Rivers were “running like chocolate,” carrying huge trees, mud and boulders; the Snake River at Hells Canyon Dam crested at 101,728 cfs January 1, nearly 30,000 cfs over its previous record level on 2/23/82. The crash of a plane carrying 5 people from Boise to McCall, killing all, was a result of the weather. Governor Batt declared 13 counties a disaster: Gem, Adams, Washington, Idaho, Clearwater, Valley, Payette, Elmore, Latah, Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone and Boise. A Federal disaster was declared on January 4, 1997.

County Summary: The Payette River at the Black Canyon Dam crested at 39,000 cfs, more than twice flood stage. Highways and bridges were destroyed by mudslides, isolating several communities. Fourteen levees were damaged. Gem County declared a state of emergency along the Payette River January 1, and ordered over 250 people in Emmett to evacuate. 15 people were sheltered by the Red Cross at Emmett High School, and an unknown number at the Mormon Church. A gas line underneath the Payette River broke, leaving 150 people in Emmett without service.

$643,480.00

The Idaho Statesman January 2, 3, 4, 1997, 3/20/97

The next mudslides would not come until 2001, at Staircase rapid on the lower South Fork, completely changing it as well. (from the NOAA site)

A powerful thunderstorm dropped a half inch of rain in 15 minutes and nearly an inch in the hour between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on the afternoon of the 13th. This caused flash flooding in the steep terrain alongside the Payette River. The flash flooding triggered mudslides along a stretch of Highway 17 from 2 miles East of Banks to 8 miles East of Banks. Highway 17 was closed for 20 hours. A second area of mudslides located 2 miles North of Banks closed Highway 55 overnight . Some vehicles were trapped between mudslides but no one was injured. Cost of clearing this slide (and a slide three days later) was estimated at $500K.

The “Gutter”

The gutter is also known as the fish ladder. Located in the middle of Horseshoe Bend, this feature has become the afternoon playground for hordes of play boaters from Boise. Originally desinged to accommodate a river diversion for the Horseshoe Bend Hydroelcectic project, it was built with boaters in mind. On weekends and late weekday afternoons you can expect to see at least a few groups of paddlers enjoying the late summer sunlight and warmth. Often, local kayak shops have weekly boat demos and BBQ’s.

This is by no means the “History of the Payette”. If you would like a story or section added, please email the webmaster. We will be constantly updating this page so check back soon!

The Payette River system was named after Francois Payette a French-Canadian trapper whose exploits with the local Blackfoot indians are infamous. In the late 60’s kayakers from nearby Boise began to kayak many of the sections visible from Highway 55. As the popularity of outdoor recreation increased, the masses that made the weekend drive to the banks of the Payette grew. During the 80’s, many rafting companies opened for business to accommodate the adventurous crowd.
Mudslides!The winter of 1996 and spring of 1997 brought some of the highest water levels in years with a winter snow pack of almost 180%. On Christmas day, a warm weather storm blew in and raised the temperatures to almost 50 degrees, dropping 3 inches of rain. Needless to say, massive mudslides ensued. Scattered up and down Hwys 21, 55, and 17 were mudslides that in many cases washed the road out. Near Bronco Billy, a rapid on the lower South Fork, a mudslide actually made a natural dam that stopped up the river and cut off all access to nearby Garden Valley and Crouch for 2 weeks. The dam was cleared by floating dynamite into it, but when the river resumed its normal flow, Bronco Billy was permanently altered. Slalom, the last rapid on the same run, also had major mudslides that completely changed the rapid from a easy class III to a very exciting class IV with a new hole known as Seemore (as in see more rafts flip, see more water, see more carnage). Massive damage at Banks 2 (a small group of buildings near Bennett’s Rock rapid) caused the area to be condemned. On the Main Payette, what once was a fun surf wave called “The Main Play Wave”, became known as GLOYF (go left or you’re fired) after the mudslides. The following description is from the Gem County website:Flood – New Year’s Day Storm – January 1-5, 1997Event Summary: $65,000,000.00 – New Year’s day floods in the Weiser, Payette and Salmon River drainages of southwestern Idaho caused record flooding and numerous mudslides. Warm temperatures combined with a rainfall 4-6 times the normal amount; the resulting snowmelt triggered devastating floods, mudslides and avalanches, extensively damaging communities and infrastructure throughout Idaho. The community of South Banks was condemned because of extensive slide damage. Over 400 miles of roads and several railroad lines were blocked or destroyed, stranding over 10,000 holiday travelers in western Idaho. Residents of McCall, Cascade, Banks, Lowman and Garden Valley were isolated. Rivers were “running like chocolate,” carrying huge trees, mud and boulders; the Snake River at Hells Canyon Dam crested at 101,728 cfs January 1, nearly 30,000 cfs over its previous record level on 2/23/82. The crash of a plane carrying 5 people from Boise to McCall, killing all, was a result of the weather. Governor Batt declared 13 counties a disaster: Gem, Adams, Washington, Idaho, Clearwater, Valley, Payette, Elmore, Latah, Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone and Boise. A Federal disaster was declared on January 4, 1997.County Summary: The Payette River at the Black Canyon Dam crested at 39,000 cfs, more than twice flood stage. Highways and bridges were destroyed by mudslides, isolating several communities. Fourteen levees were damaged. Gem County declared a state of emergency along the Payette River January 1, and ordered over 250 people in Emmett to evacuate. 15 people were sheltered by the Red Cross at Emmett High School, and an unknown number at the Mormon Church. A gas line underneath the Payette River broke, leaving 150 people in Emmett without service.$643,480.00The Idaho Statesman January 2, 3, 4, 1997, 3/20/97
The next mudslides would not come until 2001, at Staircase rapid on the lower South Fork, completely changing it as well. (from the NOAA site)
A powerful thunderstorm dropped a half inch of rain in 15 minutes and nearly an inch in the hour between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on the afternoon of the 13th. This caused flash flooding in the steep terrain alongside the Payette River. The flash flooding triggered mudslides along a stretch of Highway 17 from 2 miles East of Banks to 8 miles East of Banks. Highway 17 was closed for 20 hours. A second area of mudslides located 2 miles North of Banks closed Highway 55 overnight . Some vehicles were trapped between mudslides but no one was injured. Cost of clearing this slide (and a slide three days later) was estimated at $500K.
The “Gutter”The gutter is also known as the fish ladder. Located in the middle of Horseshoe Bend, this feature has become the afternoon playground for hordes of play boaters from Boise. Originally desinged to accommodate a river diversion for the Horseshoe Bend Hydroelcectic project, it was built with boaters in mind. On weekends and late weekday afternoons you can expect to see at least a few groups of paddlers enjoying the late summer sunlight and warmth. Often, local kayak shops have weekly boat demos and BBQ’s.

This is by no means the “History of the Payette”. If you would like a story or section added, please email the webmaster. We will be constantly updating this page so check back soon!

If you are interested in the flows, we tweet them every morning on twitter. Follow us HERE

* River flows are an estimate, compiled using stream data from USBR, USGS, and Idaho Power web sites. There will be slight discrepancies in the report due to different time intervals from the remove sites. View Raw DataView Raw North Fork